Evans sentenced to 45 years in murder case

DAVIESS COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) – A Washington, Ind. man accused for his role in the shooting death of Devan Burris, 17, was sentenced on Thursday.

Logan Evans was sentenced to 45 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after he entered a plea bargain in the Daviess County Superior Court in February.

The charges stem from a December 2013 incident that happened on Oak Grove Road in Washington. According to information in an unsealed court document, police believed Evans wanted to buy methamphetamine from Burris. The document also named Evans as the shooter.

News 10 caught up with Evans while Daviess County Sheriff Jerry Harbstreit escorted him for sentencing. When asked if Evans would like to say anything to the victim’s family, he responded “no.”

Around 30 people attended the sentencing; representing both the Burris and Evans family. The sentencing itself lasted around 30 minutes. Kristin Hughes, a friend of the Burris family delivered an emotional victim impact statement on behalf of Tammy Burris, mother of Devan.

“He [Devan] was a loving and gentle soul,” said Hughes. “He drowned in his own blood, alone” she continued. After the sentencing Hughes provided News 10 with a statement, again on behalf of Tammy Burris, regarding the proceedings.

“We are glad that it’s over. Logan Evans never said he was sorry or showed any remorse. He deserves what he got. We feel justice was served but that won’t bring Devan back,” read the statement.

Daviess County Prosecutor Dan Murrie echoed the family’s remorse. “I think they got some of what they were looking for, but the only restitution they were interested in was getting their son back,” said Murrie. “There’s no winners in a case like this, the only way I could ever call this a win, would be for this tragedy to have never happened and I can’t do that.”

When asked in court if Evans would like to make a statement to the court, he declined. The Judge ordered that Evans pay the Burris family $3147 in restitution.

The 18-year-old was sentenced to 45 years in prison with credit for 117 days served. The Judge noted if Evans served his time accordingly, he could be eligible for a work release program for the final 10 years of his sentence.

“I don’t believe any parent gets over losing a child,” the judge said.